Son steps into dad's shoes to run Westminster store

WESTMINSTER -- Brian Vincent said it was never his dream to take over the family business, but after a family illness the 28-year-old stepped up and has had great success behind the helm.

With a store known for its handmade signs, antique bicycle collection and a giant novelty shopping cart kept out front, Vincent's Country Store has long been a landmark in downtown Westminster.

Four years ago owner Bruce Vincent, 46 at the time, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. The family knew he would soon be unable to manager the store and considered selling it or shutting it down before Brian said he would take over.

"Without him I don't know how what we would have done," said Cindy Vincent, Brian's mother. She remembers fondly when Bruce Vincent bought the store in December 1992.

"It was his dream to open a grocery store," she said. He had worked in management positions at grocery stores for years and saw there was a store for sale in downtown Westminster. It was closed for about two months before he opened it under his own name.

"I remember a lot of customers said it was the worst two months of their life," said Brian Vincent. He said people didn't like having to drive all the way to Gardner for a gallon of milk.

His first job was sweeping the floors for $1 an hour. He said he and his brother probably ate more items off the shelf than they were paid.

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After high school he moved to California for about five years and worked on automobiles and installed suspension lift kits. When his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's he agreed to come back, and his dad trained him how to run the store.

"Originally, it's not where I saw myself," said Brian Vincent. He's been managing the store for about four years, purchased it on May 31 of this year and said he's settled in and happy to be here.

When needed, he can fill in on any department at the store, from slicing deli meets to shelving bouquets at the floral display.

"That's how his father was, running every aspect of the store," said Cindy Vincent. She said both men like being hands-on and put in six- to seven-day workweeks.

"It's like Brian has stepped into his dad's shoes and nothing has changed," she added. The couple also have another son, Jeff, who works as a part-time police officer, and a daughter, Danielle, who lives in Fitchburg.

Cindy Vincent owns the building and runs the Country Treasures Gift Shop next door but plans to shut that down after Christmas to care for her husband full time.

Brian Vincent manages a staff of about 20, including John Aho, an assistant manager hired by Bruce Vincent four and a half years ago.

"It's actually been a pretty smooth transition," said Aho. He said the big difference between the two is that Bruce Vincent always liked to keep things they way they are and Brian Vincent likes to experiment.

Under his leadership the store has gained a liquor license to sell beer and wine and brought in more high-end brands like Boar's Head deli items, Stonewall Kitchen and local produce. He said as a smaller operation they can't always beat chain supermarkets on prices, but they can offer higher-quality items from local producers.

"One-stop shopping is the goal," said Brian Vincent. He said he always strives to meet the needs of customers.

"That's rewarding for me," he said.

Another successful experiment he said has been the group's Facebook page. They will post online when the bread just comes out of the oven so people can get it while it's still hot. The page has 1,300 followers, or nearly one-sixth the population of Westminster.

He's also continued supporting church suppers, Little League teams and the local food pantry.

Marie Heath is a volunteer at the Westminster Community Food Pantry and said bonds with the store have increased under Brian Vincent.

"He's done a lot for the pantry," said Heath. In the spring he organized a drive where patrons could purchase a coupon for a gallon of milk at the store. It brought in several hundred coupons that the food pantry distributed to needy families.

Heath said Brian Vincent also approached them about being a supplier when volunteers need to buy specific food items. She said the discount he offered them brought the prices in line with the previous vendor, only now volunteers don't have to drive to Fitchburg or Gardner to pick them up.

"This just makes things more efficient," said Heath. She said besides the faster pick-up times, the group has limited storage capabilities and now can pick up items as needed instead of having to find room for large loads.

Brian Vincent recently sold $400 of raffle tickets for a Kindle Fire as a fundraiser for an Alzheimer's charity walk. About 25 family members, employees and friends are members of Team Vincent and will be participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sept. 30 in Worcester.

"For a little store like this we've made a pretty big splash in the community," said Brian Vincent.

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